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Omar wins DFL endorsement for 5th District congressional seat

First-term state Rep. Ilhan Omar has won the DFL endorsement on Sunday in Minneapolis to run in the Aug. 14 primary for the 5th District congressional seat being vacated by Keith Ellison.Evan Frost | MPR News

Omar faced off Sunday against State Sen. Patricia Torres Ray and DFL newcomer Frank Drake at an afternoon convention at Clara Barton Open School in south Minneapolis. Drake was knocked out on the first ballot, and Omar won with 68 percent of the votes on the second ballot, even after Torres Ray took to the podium and released her delegates.

State Sen. Patricia Torres Ray speaks to delegates during the DFL 5th Congressional District convention inside of the Clara Barton Open School in Minneapolis on Sunday.Evan Frost | MPR News

Omar said she thinks she'll be the candidate going on to the general election in November.

"I wouldn't run if I didn't think I could," Omar said in an interview. "I believe I am the best candidate to send to Washington to collectively fight for us and bring about the issues that we care about. We are ready to put boots on the ground, to have the conversations that are necessary to have people believe in this journey to Washington."

Both Torres Ray and Drake told about 200 delegates gathered for the convention that they would continue campaigning to win the party nod in August. Two other DFL candidates, former DFL House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Jamal Abdi Abdulahi, skipped the convention, but said they'd also be campaigning to win the primary this summer.

Gallery

Frank Drake speaks to delegates at the DFL 5th District convention inside Clara Barton Open School in Minneapolis on Sunday. Drake was dropped from the ballot after the first vote.Evan Frost | MPR NewsView full galleryA ballot is put in an envelope.Evan Frost | MPR NewsRep. Keith Ellison greets Minneapolis City Council Member Phillipe Cunningham outside of Clara Barton Open School before the DFL 5th District convention.Evan Frost | MPR NewsJerome "brother" Love and Patrice-Maria "mother" Love fan themselves while waiting for the DFL 5th District convention to begin.Evan Frost | MPR NewsCandidate for Hennepin County District 2 Commissioner Irene Fernando speaks at the DFL 5th District convention.Evan Frost | MPR News